Two police officers based at Gweru Central station have  appeared in court facing charges of theft.
The two constables, Logistics Muzvuve and Brighton Zimiso Sibanda allegedly stole two pairs of shoes worth $40 which they had recovered as stolen property.
They were not asked to plead as they appeared  before Provincial Magistrate Mrs Phathekile Msipa facing one count each of theft of trust property, but were remanded in custody to September 15. Mrs Msipa advised the pair to apply for bail at the High Court. Prosecuting, Mr Andrew Marimo told the court that on July 21 Kenneth Keche stole 35 pairs of shoes from a flea market in the city.
He gave two pairs of the shoes to Lameck Toperesu for safe-keeping. Keche was sentenced to six months in prison on July 27 of which two months were suspended on condition he restitutes the complainant of $500.
Mr Marimo said Muzvuve and Sibanda approached Toperesu demanding that he hands over the shoes he had received from Keche.
“It is alleged that Toperesu was ordered by the accused persons to accompany them to Gweru Central Police Station for receiving stolen goods. However, along the way, Cst Muzvuve gave him his cellphone number and told him to go back and use the number in case he came across Keche,” he said.
The court heard the cops took the two pairs of shoes and did not hand them over when they arrived at the police station.
Mr Marimo said Toperesu was later apprehended by another police officer after Keche’s arrest. –  State Media